Live-fish box.



PATENTBD MAR. 21, 1905.

C. B. TOURVILLE. LIVE FISH BOX. APPLICATION FILED 0M. 3, 1904.

3 van l'oz a l'l'o: nut

No. 785,451. I

UNITED STATES Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. TOURVILLE, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOKATIE KUHLMANN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOUBI.

LIVE-FISH BOX.

srncrrrca'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,451, dated March21,1905.

Application filed October 3, 1904. Serial No. 227,024.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. TOURVILLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates,'residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Live- Fish Boxes, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in live-fish boxes; and itconsists in the novel construction of box more fully set forth in thespecification and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings. Figure 1 is a perspective of my box unfolded andshowing the same in actual use. Fig. 2 is a perspective of the boxpartially unfolded. Fig. 3 is a perspective detail showing manner ofhinging the lid. Fig. 4. is a perspective detail showing thelocking-hook for securing two adjacent foldable sections, and Fig. 5 isa perspective detail showing manner of insuring rigidity between the endsections and rear wall.

The objecto-f my invention is to construct a folding or collapsible boxfor placing the fish in after they are caught with a view of keeping thesame alive as long as possible.

It has been customary to provide a net for the fish after they arecaught; butanet when submerged in the water collapses and the fish(llrecome entangled therein and eventually they My box may be submerged,and, being constructed wholly of wire, it preserves its shape and thefish are free to swim about unhampered and can eventually be broughthome alive and fresh.

In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 2 3 4 5 6 respectively represent'thebottom, back, front, two end walls, and lid of a folding box, theseveral walls or sections being constructed of wire. The base of themarginal wire w of the front and rear walls passes through the loopedends of the transverse rods '1' of the bottom,

and the base of the marginal wire of the end walls 4 5 passes throughthe terminal loops of corresponding rods 1" of the bottom, the severalwalls or sections when folded being held in proper relation by hooks h,one end of the hook being looped about the marginal wire of one sectionand having a terminal bent portion p, which engages the wire of theadjacent or contiguous section, Fig. 4.. The mere frictional engagementbetween the inturned ends 12 of the hooks and the wire of the contiguoussections is sufficient to retain the latter in position. The rear end ofthe upper portion of the marginal wire of the end section is providedwith an extension e, which passes inside the marginalwire of the section2, the end sections being thus reinforced against strain from theinside. The lid 6 is hinged, by means of rings 0, to the marginal wireof section 2. The sections when properly unfolded and secured form acomplete wire cage or box, which can be suspended in the water, as seenin Fig. 1, and the fish introduced thereinto as they are caught.

I may of course depart from the details here shown without in any wiseaffecting the nature or spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is A live-fish box composedof wire, and comprising a bottom having longitudinally and transverselydisposed rods terminating in loops, end, front and rear walls havingmarginal wires passing through the loops of the respective rods, a lidhinged to the rear wall, and locking-hooks loopedabout the marginal wireof one wall and having bent terminals for engaging the wire of thecontiguous wall, the rear ends of the upper portions of the end wallsbeing extended rearwardly and passing under the marginal wire of therear wall in the assembled position of the several walls, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES B. TOURVILLE.

Witnesses:

E IL STAREK,

G. L. BELFRY.

